{"id":1307,"date":"2024-05-23T08:20:44","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T08:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/developmentdebate.in\/2024\/05\/28\/world-migration-report-2024-beyond\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T08:20:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:20:18","slug":"world-migration-report-2024-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/developmentdebate.in\/?p=1307","title":{"rendered":"World Migration Report 2024: Beyond the Statistical Jugglery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mohammad Akmal Shareef<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

On May 7, 2024 Ms Amy E. Pope, Director General of
\nInternational Organization for Migration (IOM)<\/b> launched the World Migration
\nReport 2024 at Dhaka, Bangladesh. \u00a0At the surface level, the report
\nhighlights the shared commitment of the international community to promote safe
\nmigration. However, the staggering rise in the numbers of global refugees and
\nmigrants driven by conflict, climate change, and economic in-equality gives us
\na grimmer picture. It cross checks the political rhetoric\u00a0often shrouded
\nwith lofty values professed by the member states on the global podium.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sudden flaring
\nup of Palestine imbroglio, the plight of stateless Rohingya refugees, forgotten
\ncrisis of Afghanistan, the Ukraine crisis (which gets the maximum attention of
\nthe donors!), and the fighting in Sudan between the rival armed forces, have
\nexacerbated the refugee and IDP crises.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The images of sinking
\nand broken boats carrying the refugees as they take the risky sea journey in
\nthe hope of seeing a better future, reminds the political artifice of the
\nglobal power brokers these refugees repeatedly hear. It has given them nothing,
\nbut a congealed morass of hope built on the dead bodies of their loved ones,
\nfloating in the ocean- from the Mediterranean to the Pacific.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

While human history is a history of migration and many countries across
\nthe globe have written their success stories by harnessing the potential of
\nmigrants, the underline and systemic factors that drive unsafe migration need
\ngreater commitment and attention than ever.\u00a0\u00a0Changing geo-political
\nrealities, technological divide, emergence of powerful non-state actors and
\narmed groups- who are often seen in exasperating the problem-, and mammoth rise
\nand influence of the private sector in shaping policies and public discourse,
\nwarrant our renewed commitment for transboundary cooperation and collaborations
\nto address the global migration crises.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

Creating
\npathways for safe migration, highlighting the contributions of migrants, and
\naddressing the even growing wave of hatred against migrants\/refugees are the
\narenas aid communities need to highlight more.\u00a0\u00a0As humanitarians we
\nmust continue to speak louder and share the stories of grief, anger, hope, and
\npride of the refugees; our voices need to be much louder, as there is growing
\nconcern that the world is moving more towards uncertainty and the voices of
\nrefugees and oppressed are not lost in the opera of political optics displayed
\nin front of us.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Globally 281
\nMillion, roughly 03.60% of the global population are migrants; they are living
\nin countries other than their countries of birth. There has been a growing
\ngender gap; the share of female migrants has significantly decreased since
\n2020. \u00a0The number of refugees stands at 35.3 Million, whereas 54 million
\nare asylum seekers and 71.2 million people are IDPs.\u00a0Remaining 120.6
\nMillion are those living in countries other than their birth for work and other
\nreasons. Europe and Asia host 87 and 86 Million of International migrants
\nrespectively and that comprise 61% of the total global international migrants. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

As for countries
\nof origin, Asia has seen a drastic rise in numbers in the last 10 years. More
\nthan 40% of international migrants come from Asia, with India having the lion
\nshare, followed by China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, and
\nAfghanistan. <\/span>Nationals
\nof countries where HDI is high, have access to almost 85% of the countries
\nglobally, thanks to the sheer capacity of their passports. The lower the HDI
\nindex, the limited access the nationals have to migrate. However, in the
\ncountries with lower HDI index, the probability and circumstances which lead to
\nmigration is much higher.<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The report also
\nhighlights the contribution of migrants in building economies. Paradoxically
\nmany countries that have been beneficiary of remittance sent by the migrants,
\nhave also seen significant rise in the anti- migrant\/refugee sentiments,
\nleading to rise of hate crime and violence against them. India, China, Mexico,
\nthe Philippines, and Egypt are the major recipients of remittance. First time,
\nIndia has crossed the threshold of $100 billion. It receives roughly $111
\nBillion as remittance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Still effective
\ngovernance of migration at global and national level continues to remain a big
\nchallenge.<\/span><\/b> Changing geopolitical realities warrants an effective
\ninternational migration governance framework based on the key spokes of
\njustice, equity, rule of law, and compassion. Though, there has been progress
\nto note, but are they enough to address the current challenges? \u00a0<\/span>The subject of migration has first time got
\nmajor traction in any global development document is the Agenda 2030\/SDGs, which became a powerful accelerator to recognise the role of
\nmigrants and its effective governance in achieving the UN SDGs. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

Subsequently,
\nthe promulgation of Global Compact for safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration
\n2018, became a huge stepping stone in terms of providing a broader governance
\nframework to regulate migration at the global level. It spelt out the
\ncommitments, milestones, and process through which migration will be regulated.
\nHowever, being a non- binding cooperative framework in nature, the Global
\nCompact 2018 failed to garner the vote and commitments of all the member
\nstates. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Onus to regulate
\nand take actions through developing national policies and action plans on the Global
\nCompact remain in the purview of member states. Therefore many countries,
\nthough play a crucial role in the effective governance of migration, have yet
\nto take actions and form policies to govern migration. In fact, many countries
\nin the South and South-east Asia region, where the impact of cross border
\nmigration in recent years is glare, have yet to sign the global refugee
\nconvention of 1951; that further impedes in the way of effective governance. \u2018Ostrich
\nsyndrome\u2019 of states (especially the rich and powerful countries and blocks!)
\nwould not take us far in addressing the problem.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Current migration
\ncrisis is perhaps unparalleled in human history. It\u2019s complex and driven by
\nmultiple factors. The cacophony around this is loud, but gives us a \u2018jarred view\u2019,<\/i> where stories of plight of
\nmigrants and refugees are lost. We must not forget those stories and continue
\nto advocate for their rights. Circumstances have forced them to leave their
\nhomes \u2013 they need the shared commitment of humanity to sail through.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Note: The author is the Country Director, Action Against Hunger, Bangladesh.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0The opinion expressed in the article is solely of the author and does
\nnot represent the view of the organizations he works with.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Image credit: Getty Images\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n